Bringing Scottish history to life and celebrating all that is great around the waters of Loch Fyne including scenery, hospitality, food, music and dance the Vikings are coming!! 25-29 June 2014 Five fun days celebrating Loch Fyne s fascinating history, beautiful scenery and friendly villages. Tarbert Traditional Boat Festival & Loch Fyne Viking Festival 25-29 June 2014 www.tarberttraditionalboat festival.org.uk
Introduction In the 11th century islands around the west coast of Scotland fell prey to Vikings who arrived in our waters from Norway. And in 1098 one particular Viking, Magnus Barfot, claimed the island of Kintyre. Refusing to recognise the narrow strip of land which connects West and East Loch Tarbert, Magnus had his men carry him and his Longship from west to east, creating (possibly) the first mainland island! Can you imagine what a sight this would have been? Well you don t need to imagine, as this is just one of the highlights of this first Viking festival! About the festival We have built a traditional Longship which will be the centrepiece of the Festival which we will sail around Loch Fyne. As Vikings it is our duty to cause mayhem wherever we land, and together with our flotilla of local and visiting boats we will make sure we uphold our Viking tradition! The emphasis is on fun and we promise to provide not just a fabulous spectacle for people standing on the banks of the loch but also great entertainment at our events onshore too! Wednesday 25 June Our Longship, together with the the Arran Longship and (possibly) a Norwegian Longship will leave Tarbert to sail up Loch Fyne. The six to seven hour sail promises to be a magnificent sight its not often you see two Longships on Scottish waters! We will be accompanied by a flotilla of visitor and support boats, some of which are taking part in Tarbert s Traditional Boat Festival which runs
over the weekend alongside the Viking Festival. We will arrive at Fyne Ales at around 4.00pm when 20 Vikings will raid the brewery although we may be satisfied with a barrel of beer! To appease the Vikings, Fyne Ales has agreed to organise a Viking party with an evening of music, dance, food and drink. You can join to party too for a entrance fee. Thursday 26 June 2014 After an overnight camp the Viking s will set of to raid Inveraray where they have threatened to kidnap the Inveraray Headman. We don t expect him to come quietly so look out for skirmishes and shouting which will end in traditional open air negotiations. The Vikings will expect a high ransom so there is no guarantee these will be successful Alongside this Inveraray will be holding a Viking market complete with a hog roast. The Longship will then set sail for Ardrishaig on Thursday afternoon. Despite the friendly locals coming out onto Loch Gilp to welcome the Vikings ashore for hearty food and drink, don t be fooled, things may not quite be what they seem The first ever rowing race from Ardrishaig to Tarbert will start after the raid. The race will be rowed in St. Ayles skiffs with participants from Loch Fyne, the Islands and the Clyde, in cooperation with the Scottish Coastal Rowing Association.
special prizes will be awarded in Tarbert s Corner House. You can follow the Viking flotilla by road along the shores of Loch Fyne: starting at Fyne Ales brewery and ending in Tarbert. You ll have time enough to visit several points of interests en route, such as Auchindrain Township Museum or Kilmartin Museum, or to walk to one of the viewpoints with spectacular views over Loch Fyne. This was formed on 29 May 2010 to encourage Coastal Rowing & Racing around the Scottish Coastline and Lochs. Communities are encouraged to become involved in building new boats and in rowing, using the sea for fitness, friendship, and competition. Skiffs are expected to come from Islay, Seil, Kilmelford, Lochgilphead, Tighnabruaich, Greenock, Glasgow, Largs, Millport and Troon. This will be another great spectacle to watch from the shores of the beautiful Loch Fyne. Once the rowing boats and Longships have arrived in Tarbert, You can also join the Loch Fyne Treasure Hunt trail being devised especially for the Viking Raid. This follows the Viking flotilla and encourages you to explore many not so well known spots along Loch Fyne. Friday 27 June 2014 The third Tarbert Traditional Boat Festival begins today. From 13:00 over 40 traditional boats will arrive in Tarbert Harbour from all over the UK. There will again be a variety of vessels, some old, some not so old but all built following traditional lines, including restored or converted fishing boats, sailing yachts and motor yachts in all sizes and materials, and with every vessel telling a story.
to attend an opening reception which starts at 17:00. The boats offer a fascinating overview of UK maritime history while giving the opportunity to dream and fantasise about trips to faraway places. Come and watch the careful manoeuvring of boats in the harbour against the backdrop of Tarbert fishing fleet s Friday return. All boats will be moored at Tarbert Harbour pontoons, which will be open to the public. Crew members from the participating traditional boats are welcome A community barbecue is planned in the evening. This will be open for the whole of Tarbert and all participants, guests and visitors. During the evening musicians are invited to perform on an open stage. For a small fee representatives of Tarbert Academy Parent Council will prepare burgers and sausages for you. All in all, a true community event. Saturday 28 June 2014 The following morning, Saturday 28 June, the pontoons will be open again for the public to have a closer look at all the traditional boats. Each vessel will display a poster with information about its history and current life. This
information will also be available in a booklet. It will be a day packed with events, family fun and games, with Tarbert Harbour Events Area being transformed into a Viking village including Vikings from Norway and Scotland, and archers from Northern Ireland. There will be Viking skirmishes, wooden boatbuilding demonstrations, a greasy pole competition, rowing races and a boat-building competition. Archers will give a demonstration and spectators can have a go at shooting an arrow. Later in the evening Archers will shoot burning arrows at targets in the harbour to set these alight. Halfway through the afternoon the portage of the Longship will start at West Loch Hotel. A large number of volunteers will be needed to pull the Tarbert Viking Longship over Tarbert s isthmus from West Loch to East Loch. The portage will start at the West Loch Hotel, where snacks and drinks will be served to strengthen volunteers and visitors alike. The Longship will be parked from Friday afternoon (27/6) to Saturday afternoon (28/6) at the West Loch Hotel car park. The Longship can be viewed and inspected from close quarters at this car park, providing a unique photo opportunity: dress your child in a Viking costume and take her/his picture by the Longship. The portage will be accompanied by a large number of Tarbert s young people with flags and music, especially designed and composed to make light work of the portage. The Longship will be taken from one side to the other in three stages. The first stage ends halfway at An Tairbeart. An Tairbeart will provide refreshments for all involved in the Longship portage and as well as for the supporters. The Longship will be officially named during a short stop at the Coop corner. The name of
March 2014 celebrity performing the name-giving ceremony will remain a secret! The Longship name will be chosen following a name-giving competition among Tarbert Academy students. After the name-giving the portage and parade will continue towards 2014 Tarbert s Calmac ferry slip where The Festival is part of the Homecoming Scotland 2014 Partners Programme of Events and Festivals the Longship will be launched. Later in the evening there will be an open air Ceilidh with an all-round band, which will perform a variety of dance music. Once darkness sets in, special archery with burning arrows and fireworks will light up the night sky. Portavadie is organising a festival closing party in the evening, including a great Viking feast with music, dance, food and drink. Everybody can join in for an entrance fee. Heart of Argyll Sunday 29 June 2014 The next day, after the traditional boat TARBERT HOTEL crews breakfast at Tarbert Hotel, the traditional boats will leave Tarbert harbour for a sail past on Loch Fyne. A grand spectacle with a limited possibility for visitors to join as a guest on board a traditional boat or on one of the spectator boats. www.tarberttraditionalboatsfestival.org.uk Facebook: Loch Fyne Viking Festival Twitter: @LFyneVikingFest email: mallemok@live.co.uk Tarbert Traditional Boat Festival & Loch Fyne Viking Festival 25 29 June 2014 Together with the Longships, traditional boats will cross Loch Fyne to raid Portavadie, where a Viking Party will be open to all. The Vikings have threatened to create chaos after entering the marina and will carry out a raid on the decking outside the restaurant. This chaos can only be stopped once the right price has been negotiated. 2014 The Festival is part of the Homecoming Scotland 2014 Partners Programme of Events and Festivals
www.tarberttraditionalboatsfestival.org.uk Facebook: Loch Fyne Viking Festival Twitter: @LFyneVikingFest email: mallemok@live.co.uk Heart of Argyll Preliminary event programme; activities may be added or changed.